Like many other positional groups, the Los Angeles Dodgers are loaded with talented players behind the plate. Among them is Kyle Farmer, who serves as quality depth behind All-Star caliber starters Austin Barnes and Yasmani Grandal.
Last season, Farmer posted a .650 on-base plus slugging over 20 plate appearances. He most notably delivered a walk-off double in his MLB debut against the San Francisco Giants.
Farmer struggled a bit defensively and recognized he needed to improve his pitch framing skills this offseason. He helped his cause by watching film on teammates Barnes and Grandal, in addition to changing his workout, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“My framing stats were average but to get to the point I want to be you have to be great,” Farmer said.
“Watching film of Yaz (Yasmani Grandal) and (Austin) Barnes during the offseason I saw the position they were getting in and I was, ‘I can’t get in that position.’ I had to figure out how to get in that position. Me and B-Mac (strength and conditioning coach Brandon McDaniel) kind of sat down together and made a plan and a routine for myself.”
Farmer credited a Pilates-based workout program that helped him improve his flexibility in the hips area. While Farmer has enjoyed success at the plate at the Minor League level, he will further improve his versatility and value to the Dodgers by becoming an pitch framer.
Along with becoming a better receiver behind the plate, Farmer’s offseason work has also paid dividends in terms of offensive production. He’s 7-for-11 through four Cactus League games, with two doubles, one home run and four RBI.
Heading into the 2018 season, Farmer will likely serve the same role as he did last year and break camp with Triple-A Oklahoma City. But given how the Dodgers utilize their depth to the full extent, he’ll surely receive an opportunity at some point at the Major League level.
